Fairfax County Sheriff's Office
Encyclopedia
The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) serves a population of 1,081,726 residents in Northern Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
It is the largest Sheriff's Office in Virginia
with nearly 600 sworn deputies. The Sheriff and his deputies are fully sworn law enforcement officers with full arrest powers within Fairfax County
, City of Fairfax
and the Towns of Herndon
and Vienna
. The Sheriff's Office assists the Fairfax County Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order in Fairfax County.
. There have been 70 elected Sheriffs in Fairfax County, the current Sheriff is Stan Barry. Sheriff Barry was first elected in 1999. The Sheriff is a position that was established under the Virginia Constitution, the citizens elect the Sheriff every four years.
The FCSO responsibilities have changed immensely since its inception. The FCSO was the primary law enforcement agency in the County until 1940. This is the year Sheriff Kirby persuaded the Board of Supervisors to implement a County Police Department. Fairfax County was rapidly changing from a rural area to a sprawling suburb of Washington D.C. Sheriff Kirby was overwhelmed with running the county jail, providing court security, serving civil process and patrol. In 1940 the County Police were tasked with daily criminal police duties.
Training begins at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly, Virginia
. The FCSO attends the police academy with the Fairfax County, Herndon and Vienna Police Departments.
The Adult Detention Center (ADC) serves as the County jail in Fairfax. It is unique in the nation because it provides all three forms of jail housing—linear, podular remote, and direct supervision. The average daily population is about 1400 inmates.
Inmates await trial and sentencing, or release after completing their sentence. The jail holds criminals with all types of offenses from, murder to drunk in public.
Civil Service
The Sheriff's Office provides the service of civil documents including court capias and court orders. The Sheriff's Office also is responsible for executing eviction orders and levies.
Court Security
The Sheriff's Office provides security for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and the Fairfax County Judicial Center (Jennings Building), both located in Fairfax County's Public Safety Complex. The Judicial Center is one of the busiest courthouses in Virginia with an average of 3,500 persons entering the center daily.
Additionally the Sheriff's Office provides security for the courts in the towns of Vienna and Herndon and the City of Fairfax. Security is provided for the judges, staff and visitors.
The Sheriff's Office also is responsible for escorting in excess of 17,000 prisoners to and from these courts each year.
Community Relations
Honor Guard
The Honor Guard represents the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office at numerous events both locally and nationally.
Project Lifesaver
The Sheriff's office assists families and caregivers of individuals with Autism, Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s and related diseases and disabilities. Clients wear a wristband that emits a silent tracking signal. Deputies that respond to a family member that is lost can locate these individuals.
Community Labor Force
This section provides a substantial savings to the tax payers of Fairfax County by maintaing the grounds at numerous County facilities. The labor force removes grafftti and cleans County right of ways of trash. Labor crews consist of well screened non-violent offenders.
Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SERT)
The tactical arm of the Sheriff's Office. SERT is trained to handle high risk cell extractions in the ADC, hostage, riot and barricade situations in facilities maintained by the Sheriff's Office. High risk transports, Judiciary and executive protection, and high risk trials are conducted by SERT members. SERT is trained in civil disturbance management and provides assistance to the Fairfax County Police Department
. SERT serves high risk and fugitive warrants.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
It is the largest Sheriff's Office in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
with nearly 600 sworn deputies. The Sheriff and his deputies are fully sworn law enforcement officers with full arrest powers within Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, City of Fairfax
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
and the Towns of Herndon
Herndon, Virginia
Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the United States. The population was 21,655 at the 2000 census, which makes it the largest of three towns in the county.-History:...
and Vienna
Vienna, Virginia
Vienna is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,687. Significantly more people live in zip codes with the Vienna postal addresses bordered approximately by Interstate 66 on the south, Interstate 495 on the east, Route 7 to...
. The Sheriff's Office assists the Fairfax County Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order in Fairfax County.
History
The Sheriff's Office was formed in 1742 when Fairfax County was created from Prince William County, VirginiaPrince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
. There have been 70 elected Sheriffs in Fairfax County, the current Sheriff is Stan Barry. Sheriff Barry was first elected in 1999. The Sheriff is a position that was established under the Virginia Constitution, the citizens elect the Sheriff every four years.
The FCSO responsibilities have changed immensely since its inception. The FCSO was the primary law enforcement agency in the County until 1940. This is the year Sheriff Kirby persuaded the Board of Supervisors to implement a County Police Department. Fairfax County was rapidly changing from a rural area to a sprawling suburb of Washington D.C. Sheriff Kirby was overwhelmed with running the county jail, providing court security, serving civil process and patrol. In 1940 the County Police were tasked with daily criminal police duties.
Overview
The FCSO is a paramilitary organization with a rank structure.- Sheriff
- Lt. Colonel
- Major
- Captain
- 1st Lieutenant
- 2nd Lieutenant
- Sergeant
- Master Deputy Sheriff (MDS)
- Private First Class (PFC)
- Private
Training begins at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly, Virginia
Chantilly, Virginia
Chantilly is an unincorporated community located in western Fairfax County and southeastern Loudoun County of Northern Virginia. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census designated place , the community population was 23,039 as of the 2010 census -- down from 41,041 in 2000, due to the...
. The FCSO attends the police academy with the Fairfax County, Herndon and Vienna Police Departments.
Divisions
Adult Detention FacilityThe Adult Detention Center (ADC) serves as the County jail in Fairfax. It is unique in the nation because it provides all three forms of jail housing—linear, podular remote, and direct supervision. The average daily population is about 1400 inmates.
Inmates await trial and sentencing, or release after completing their sentence. The jail holds criminals with all types of offenses from, murder to drunk in public.
Civil Service
The Sheriff's Office provides the service of civil documents including court capias and court orders. The Sheriff's Office also is responsible for executing eviction orders and levies.
Court Security
The Sheriff's Office provides security for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and the Fairfax County Judicial Center (Jennings Building), both located in Fairfax County's Public Safety Complex. The Judicial Center is one of the busiest courthouses in Virginia with an average of 3,500 persons entering the center daily.
Additionally the Sheriff's Office provides security for the courts in the towns of Vienna and Herndon and the City of Fairfax. Security is provided for the judges, staff and visitors.
The Sheriff's Office also is responsible for escorting in excess of 17,000 prisoners to and from these courts each year.
Community Relations
Honor Guard
The Honor Guard represents the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office at numerous events both locally and nationally.
Project Lifesaver
The Sheriff's office assists families and caregivers of individuals with Autism, Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s and related diseases and disabilities. Clients wear a wristband that emits a silent tracking signal. Deputies that respond to a family member that is lost can locate these individuals.
Community Labor Force
This section provides a substantial savings to the tax payers of Fairfax County by maintaing the grounds at numerous County facilities. The labor force removes grafftti and cleans County right of ways of trash. Labor crews consist of well screened non-violent offenders.
Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SERT)
The tactical arm of the Sheriff's Office. SERT is trained to handle high risk cell extractions in the ADC, hostage, riot and barricade situations in facilities maintained by the Sheriff's Office. High risk transports, Judiciary and executive protection, and high risk trials are conducted by SERT members. SERT is trained in civil disturbance management and provides assistance to the Fairfax County Police Department
Fairfax County Police Department
The Fairfax County Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency, located in northern Virginia. The FCPD services a population of 1,081,726 citizens within of Fairfax County, Virginia....
. SERT serves high risk and fugitive warrants.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, one officer has died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy Sheriff George A. Malcolm | |
Gunfire |
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Virginia
- Fairfax County Police Department